Time to approve ethics standards

Published 7:06 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

The good news is that the Stratford Town Council did not vote down a proposed new ethics code. Instead, officials decided to give it more thought and tabled the decision until the next council meeting.

At that time, the council needs to stop discussion and get these guidelines in place. In a town rife with suspicion of ethically questionable behavior, including the hiring of close relatives for town positions, establishing a code and standing behind it are essential.

At issue for some officials are proposed requirements about disclosures of finances and real estate holdings. For anyone who would do the public's business, these are essential for the people to determine the right person for the job. Without such basic knowledge, an informed decision is impossible.

Initially, the Ethics Commission wanted to require officials' family members to detail financial holdings. Critics, including this newspaper, believed that went too far, and urged the council to adopt a less stringent standard. The commission is now proposing just such a compromise.

The Town Council should approve it. Members seem to take umbrage at the notion that they themselves have engaged in improper activities, but that misses the point. Setting a high standard means everyone must adhere to the same requirements, regardless of their own, personal demands.

As importantly, high standards help fight not just impropriety, but the appearance of impropriety, which can be just as damaging.

This is all well known in Stratford. It's time to take the next step and approve the Ethics Commissions's proposed regulations.